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Why Do I Have Carpet Moths?

Written by PestMan Editorial TeamTechnical review pendingPublished Updated

Quick answer

Carpet moths turn up where their larvae can feed undisturbed on wool, silk, fur or feathers. Common sources are wool rugs and carpet under furniture, clothes stored without cleaning, second-hand or vintage items, and lint and pet hair in corners. Bird nests or dead animals in the roof can also sustain them. They are not a sign of a dirty home.

Why this happens

Clothes moth larvae need two things: keratin to eat and somewhere dark and undisturbed to feed. A wool rug under a bed, a box of jumpers in the garage, or a wardrobe of winter coats that hasn’t been opened since last year provides both.

They prefer fabric that is slightly soiled. Sweat, skin oils and food spills add nutrients, which is why worn clothes put away without washing are often the first to be damaged.

Moths are commonly brought in on second-hand clothes, rugs and furniture, and adults can fly in through open windows in warm weather. A population can also build up in bird nests, or on a dead possum, rodent or bird in the roof or a wall cavity, then spread into the house. See what the noise in my ceiling at night is if you also hear animals overhead.

What you may be seeing

  • Damage concentrated in one room or one wardrobe, pointing to the source.
  • Holes in clothes that have been in storage, but not in clothes worn every week.
  • Moths appearing after you bought a second-hand rug or vintage clothing.

What you can do

  • Search for the source: under beds and couches, the back of wardrobes, blanket boxes, stored bags of clothes and the underside of rugs.
  • Check for webbing, cases, droppings or larvae, and remove or treat infested items.
  • Clean clothes before storing them, and keep woollens in sealed containers or garment bags.
  • Vacuum regularly under furniture and along edges, where lint and hair build up.
  • If moths keep appearing near a ceiling vent or manhole, have the roof checked for nests or dead animals.

When professional help may be needed

If you can’t find a source but moths keep appearing, or damage is spreading through wall-to-wall carpet, a pest manager can inspect carpets, roof voids and sub-floors and recommend treatment.

Carpet Moths

Small, pale moths whose caterpillars eat wool, silk, fur and feathers. They chew holes in carpets, rugs, clothes and blankets, usually in dark, undisturbed places such as under furniture and inside wardrobes.

Species mentioned

Webbing Clothes Moth

Tineola bisselliella

The most common clothes and carpet moth in homes worldwide, including Australia. Its larvae eat wool, silk and fur under patches of silk webbing.

Guide

How to Pest-Proof Your Home

A practical, room-by-room approach to reducing pests without relying on chemicals: remove what attracts them, close the ways in, and make your property less comfortable for them.

Guide

Pest Prevention Checklist

A printable seasonal checklist of simple, low-cost tasks that reduce pests around Australian homes, with the reason behind each step and extra lists for renters, apartment residents, pet owners and Queenslander owners.

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Sources & further reading

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